Self-contained liquid dispenser-upstroke discharge



June 3, 1958 v. P. STEELE 2,337,243

v SELF-CONTAINED LIQUID DISPENSER UP-STROKE DISCHARGE Filed April 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheetl Fl 6. Z.

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INVENTOR VERNON P STEE LE.

ATTORNEY V. P. STEELE June 3, 1958 SELF-CONTAINED LIQUID DISPENSER LIP-STROKE DISCHARGE Filed April 12, 1955 FIG.6.

R 2 6 e h a L1 a G O J 3 6 2 e l O l 6 m F s 4 o a a 44/34 S 4 M 3 3 k 2 INVENTOR VERNON F? STEELE ATTORNEY tlitfid States Patent SELF-CONTAIN ED LIQUID DISPENSER-UP- STROKE DISCHARGE Vernon P. Steele, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Kenco Products'Corporatinn, Englewood, N. J.

Application April 12,,1955,. SerialNo. 500,813

6 Claims. or. 222-340 :This invention relates to plungerpumpsfordispensing measured quantities of fluids,;suchasmilk, cream, melted butter, and other'vproducts, which .pumps aresubmerged in theifluid, and are mounted onandcarriediby acover adapted to be fitted on and over a-tankor other opentoppedcontainer for the'fiuid; :The' inventionalso relates to novel, double-action, valved :pump mechanisms incorporating flow restrictor means inithei delivery tube,-whereby. to insure smooth disehargerflow 'of.fiuid,.even under thermost erratic operating conditions.

object ofthe present inventionzis' to provide an improved :pump :for dispensing fluids ."from .counter containers.

Another object. of this invention isito provide a doubleaction, valved submerged pump incorporating flowsmoothing means in'the discharge tube orspout.

TYet-another object of this inventionis to provide an improved. submersible plunger pump incorporating flowrestrictor means .insertable inthe open ends of ;a discharge tube, the'said means comprising apertured plugs, the inlet plug embodying caged ball valve means forming a check valve.

Stillfanotherobject .of'this invention isto provide a submersible'plunger pump comprised 'ofafixed piston mounted on the discharge tube and'a'valved bottom-fill pumpicham'ber mounted for'reciprocation n the'piston, and a spring biased actuating mechanism coupled to and adaptedito reciprocate the pump chamber.

.A'f'urther'object of this invention-is to-provide an-expanding chamber-type, submersible plunger'pump; having a fixed piston embodying an axial disc-harge 'tube fixedly mounted ina detachable cover, the 'chamber'having-a selfseatingva'lve'cl. inlet, and a cooperating self-seating =valved inlet: in the discharge tube, .thechamber being normally biased? into its retracted emptyposition.

:Avstillffurtherobject of this invention -is-toprovide an expanding chamber-type, submersible "plunger pump havingaa discharge tube fit-ted with fiow"restri ctors at its inlet and outlet, the capacity of'the tube, between the flow restrictors, being at least equal to the'capacity of the fully expanded pump chamber.

With'these and other objects in view, whi'chmaybe incident to my improvements, the invention consistsinthe parts and combinations'to be hereinafter set forthand claimed,with the understandingthat the'several necesparticular constructions, which for the-purpose of texplav nation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1. is a. side elevational View of a.dispensing.con tainer equipped with ajnovelgplunger pump .of the present I sary elements, comprising my invention, may be "varied in Au! invention, showing the pump actuator, delivery spout, and improved nozzle;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the nozzle, shown in'Fig.v 1;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line"5'5 of Fig.2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a view similar'to Fig.5, showing the pis-ton actuator rod in the down position;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the pump cylinder of Figs. 5 and6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the pump actuating rod.

Turning now to the drawings, the improved-submersible pump mechanism is shown in association with a suitable open-topped tank 10, adapted to contain a body or milk, cream, or other fluid. The tank, if of the refrigerated type, may be spacedly hung in an outer refrigerated containerlZ, adapted to be mounted on or built into-a serving counter. The bottom of the tank may be provided with a well portion 14 adapted to spacedly receive the pump mechanism of a submersible pump. 'The body 15 .of the tank is preferably cylindrical, and may be provided with an everted flanged top 16 adapted to be detachably seated on and over the rim 17 of outer container 12. The space 18, defined by'and between the container and the tank, may be refrigerated or heated, as occasion demands. Thus, milk or cream, for use as beverages, or for use with cold cereals, will normallybe cooled, while milk or milk and cream mixtures, to be served with hot cereals, can be heated.

The submersible pump mechanism of the present invention embodies a cover member 20, of any suitable configuration, adapted to overlie the flanged top 16 of a tank, and to be secured thereto in any suitable manner, as desired. An externally disposed actuating mechanism 23 is mounted on and over an aperture 21, adapted to receive a reciprocable actuating rod 50. The cover is provided with a second, peened opening 22, in which is fixedly mounted the pump discharging tube 34, as will be described more in detail hereinafter. The actuating mechanism is more particularly described and claimed in my application Serial No. 293,057, filed June 12, 1952, now Patent No. 2,752,072 issued June 26, 1956, for Adjustable Stroke Syrup Pump, and will be described here only in its relation to the novel pump mechanism of the present inverted cup member 26, fitted onv and over member 25 and adapted to be telescoped thereon and thereover. An actuating rod 50, has an upper threaded end 51, threadedly engageable with the. threaded aperture of member 26, and with the axial, threaded socket 27, 'of'an actuating knob 28, which also functions as a lock nut when screwed up against member 26. The bottom member 25 may be provided with spaced, annular calibration marks 29, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. As will appear more fully herein, the actuating rod 50, is reciprocable in cover aperture 21, against the bias of compression spring 24, by depressing actuator knob 28.

The novel submersible pump mechanism is comprised of a fixed piston and discharge tube unit, designated generally by the numeral 30, anda reciprocable pump chamber casing 40, adapted tobe reciprocated byactuating rod vention is the multiple function of tube 34.

50. The piston 31 is a heavy cylindrical member having an axial opening 32 therethrough in which is snugly fitted the bottom or inlet portion 33 of a vertically disposed discharge pipe 34 which is mounted'in apertureZZ. The discharge pipe is bent outwardly, at an obtuse angle, im

mediately above the aperture 22, as indicated at 35,and

is continued to form an uptilted, straight spout section 36. The tube or pipe 34 is of uniform internal diameter throughout its length from its inlet 37 to and including its outlet end which receives the discharge nozzle. The pipe 34 is fixedly secured to and made structurally integral with both the cover 20 and the piston 31 by silver solder, or equivalent securing .means, designated generally by the numeral 39.

The pump chamber 40 is a generally cylindrical, cupshaped member having a wall 41 with an inner cylindrical surface 42, adapted for sliding, bearing engagement on and over the outer surface of fixed piston 31. The outer surface of wall 41 is annularly grooved, as shown at 43, to receive conformed prongs 53, 54, of actuating rod 50. The bottom 44 of the cup is axially apertured, as shown M45, and its inner surface 46 is tapered inwardly to seat ball valve 47 in aperture 45. The depth of the inner Wall of the chamber is slightly less than the height of piston 31, on and over which it reciprocates. The aperture 45 is coaxial with and of substantially the same diameter as discharge tube 34. It will be seen that the ball valve 47 is held in a cage formed by the bottom of piston 31 and the inside walls of chamber 40. The curviform prongs 53, 54, of rod 50 are formed by splitting the bottom angular extension 52 (Fig. 9) of the rod and shaping them to be received in annular groove 43, as noted, and then conformed to and locked in the groove.

As intimated hereinabove, a special feature of this in- In addition to its primary function of delivery tube, it subserves a second, structural function as a rigid spindle and depending axial support for piston 31, a third useful function as a combined reserve fluid holder and surge chamber; together with a fourth, and very important function, as a flow smoothing device. The details of the structure involved in, and the manner of the fulfillment of the first and second of these functions have been discussed, and the attainment of the third and fourth functions will now be described.

A valved plug 60 is adapted to be detachably secured in the mouth or inlet 37 of tube 34, and is formed as follows: A shank or body portion 61 is provided with a flanged head 62, and an axial orifice 63, extending therethrough. A cage comprised of crossed wire loops 64, 65, of inverted U-shape, are silver soldered or welded to the plug, and serve to retain a ball valve 66, which is normally seated on and over orifice 63, closing the same. The shank 61 is adapted for loose fit in the mouth 37 of tube 34, the flange 62 serving as a stop member when apposed to the bottom of the tube. The elongated loops 64,. 65, are bent outwardly, as shown, and are adapted to grippingly engage the inside of the tube when the plug is inserted therein. The cross-sectional area of orifice 63 is less than the cross-sectional area of discharge tube 34, whereby the orifice forms a flow restrictor and entrant for tube 34. Because of the relatively large capacity of tube 34, and the limited entrant area afforded by orifice 63,

flow into the tube from the pump chamber 4i] is restricted,

whereby smooth flow into the tube is established and surge of the inflowing liquid therein is prevented.

By the incorporation of caged ball valve 66 on and over the down-stream side of orifice 63, the apertured plug 60 is adapted to subserve the dual functions of both a check valve and a flow restricton The check valve serves to maintain the tube 34 full of liquid to be dispensed, whereby the tube functions as a secondary supply tank or reservoir, and liquid forced therein by the contraction of the pump chamber on and over'piston 31, serves as a replacement for an equivalent amount dispensed from the 4 tube. It is to be noted that the tube 34 is always full of liquid, and the pump chamber is normally empty. When the liquid in the tank is introduced into the pump chamber, as the latter is explainded, either wholly or in part, and the actuator is released, the chamber is retracted, and the contained liquid is forced up through plug 60 and the check valve mounted thereonfinto the delivery tube. It can be readily appreciated that because of the conjoint flow restrictor action of the check valve 60 and the automatic, spring-biased collapse or retraction of the expansible pump chamber 40, delivery of fluid from the dispenser is under absolute control as to evenness of flow, as the discharge function of the apparatus is essentially independent of the manner and form of manually effecting the depression and filling'of the pump chamber. Thus the segregation of the manual pump filling operation from the succeeding, automatic spring-biased, uniform flow delivery of dispensed fluid, makes for uniform operating conditions, and prevents jerky manipulation of the apparatus, with uneven flow conditions resulting therefrom.

The improvements herein as to structure and mode of operation of the novel submersible dispensing pump are enhancedby the incorporation and use of a novel discharge noz'zle, more particularly described and claimed in my companion application S. N. 500,872, filed of even date herewith. As shown in said application, the novel plug 70 comprises a body section 71 having parallel sides 72, '73, curviform top and bottom surfaces 74, 75, a flat front face embodying a transverse locking groove 76, a rearwardly extending shouldered hollow shank 77, and a discharge orifice 78 in bottom surface 75, in fluid communication with shank 77. A plastic gasket 79 is fitted on and over shank 77. The nozzle is inserted in the discharge end 38 'of delivery .tube 34, and detachably clamped in place by a bail 80 having a snap-lock fit in locking groove 76. The bail is mounted for rotation in member 81, silver soldered, or otherwise secured on the top of spout 36 of delivery tube 34, adjacent outlet 38, as indicated at 82.

WhileI have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine my self to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

- What is claimed:

1.: A dispensing unit for handling fluids contained in open-topped tanks, comprising in combination, a cupshaped pump chamber, having an external annular groove, mounted for reciprocation on and over a fixed piston; a discharge tube formed from a single piece of tubing of uniform'internal diameter, secured in the axis of the piston; spring-biased actuating means mounted on the cover and in engagement with the chamber; said springbiased actuating means including a plunger mounted for reciprocation on the cover, the biasing spring being encapsulated in a two-part telescoping housing seated on the cover, the upper end of the housing being detachably secured to the plunger rod and serving as an actuating member, the bottom portion of said plunger rod being bent at right angles, and split to form a two-pronged fork, the fork being fitted into the external annular chamber of the pump chamber and conformed to the chamber, in loose locking engagement therewith, whereby the chamber is rotatably held by and is reciprocable with the plunger rod.

2. A dispensing pump according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the spring-biased plunger rod normally holds the reciprocating pump chamber in its empty, up-position, whereby the ball valve in the chamber is apposed to and closes both the axial inlet port of the chamber and its axialoutlet port, the latter port being an axial orifice in the plug grippingly seated in the mouth of the pump discharge tube, whereby when the pump is submerged in a body of liquid, and the liquid is dispensed, the discharge tube is always full of liquid, and the pump chamber is normally empty.

3. A dispensing pump according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the down-stroke of the plunger moves the pump chamber on its piston, the chamber valve is unseated and fluid is forced into the chamber, the caged valve of the discharge tube sealing off the. tuberand on the spring-biased return stroke of the plunger, the chamber valve is seated and the contained liquid is forced up through the orifice in the caged valve, unseating the latter, and flowed under pressure up into the discharge tube, displacing contained liquid therein, which is discharged through the nozzle orifice. i

4. A dispensing pump according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the tube acts as a surge chamber, and smooth even flow and uniform discharge from the nozzle is assured under all conditions of operation of the plunger. I

5. An improved flow-smoothing means for delivery pipes of submersible plunger pumps, normally immersed in a body of liquid to be dispensed, comprising, in combination, a pump, including a pump chamber, said pump having a discharge tube with an integral, angula'rly disdiameter throughout its length and flow restrictors in both ends of the tube comprising detachable plugs having orifices of reduced cross-section with respect to the tube diameter.

6. A submersible plunger pump according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the capacity of the discharge tube is substantially equal to the capacity of the pump chamber in its fully expanded condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 967,251 Schutt Aug. 16, 1910 1,009,070 Jameson Nov. 21, 1911 1,290,941 Eckert Jan. 14, 1919 1,554,855 Johnson et al. Sept. 22, 1925 1,635,215 Johnson et al. July 12, 1927 2,168,493 Plews Aug. 8, 1939 2,524,645 Abbott Oct. 3, 1950 2,548,752 Titus Apr. 10, 1951 2,595,118 Anderson Apr. 29, 1952 2,657,833 Steczynski Nov. 3, 1953 

